Phonics, Spelling, & Grammar Resources

Got some awesome activities to teach the “oo” digraph sound? You betcha! Our “oo” Digraph Activities collection is all about making phonics a blast for kids at any level. From digital games and interactive worksheets to hands-on phonics fun and word-building, we’ve got heaps of teaching resources for all kinds of learners.

Whether your little champs are in kindy, Year 1, or even older, these activities will help them get the hang of and practice words with the “oo” digraph sound. Get ready to spark their phonics skills and breeze through learning “oo” words!

Teaching The “oo” Digraph

Let’s go on a little adventure into the world of vowel digraphs, with a focus on the “oo” digraph, to understand why, when, and how we teach them.

A vowel digraph happens when you put two vowels together, creating a special sound. For the “oo” digraph, it can make two different sounds: the long “oo” sound, like in words such as “moon” and “spoon,” or the short “oo” sound, like in words such as “book” and “look.” By teaching vowel digraphs, like “oo,” we help kids get the hang of the different ways vowel sounds are shown in words.

So, why do we teach “oo” vowel digraphs?

Vowel digraphs give kids a good grasp of vowel sound patterns. Knowing and understanding vowel digraphs helps them read and spell words with more accuracy and confidence. “oo” digraphs also boost their vocabulary and help students become better readers.

So when’s the right time to introduce “oo” digraphs?

Usually, we introduce vowel digraphs once kids have nailed the single-letter vowel sounds. As they’re getting better at phonics, which is usually in kindy or Year 1, teaching vowel digraphs like “oo” helps them dive deeper into the world of vowel sounds and expand their decoding skills.

How to teach “oo” digraphs

Teaching vowel digraphs is all about fun and engaging activities that mix both listening and looking. Teachers can throw in word sorts, word-building exercises, interactive games, and reading books that show off words with the “oo” digraph. Think words like “moon,” “spoon,” “book,” “look,” and “cook.” These activities give kids a fair go at practising their word decoding skills with the “oo” digraph and help students get a good grip on the sounds they make.

Now, it’s pretty important to be clear about the different sounds the “oo” digraph can make. Y’know, like the long “oo” sound in “moon” and the short “oo” sound in “book.” Give kids plenty of practice and activities to reinforce what they learn, so they can use their “oo” digraph knowledge when reading and writing.

Teaching “oo” digraphs helps kids feel more confident in their reading and writing skills. Once they understand and recognise this digraph, they’ll be ace at tackling a bigger range of words and improving their literacy skills big time. So, through cool activities and spot-on instruction, we can back our kids in building a rock-solid foundation in vowel digraphs and give them a leg up in their reading and spelling game.